Clive Myrie pulled from News at Ten over fears of impartiality row after Boris Johnson HIGNFY jibes
HIGNFY #HIGNFY
BBC broadcaster Clive Myrie was pulled from the News at Ten over fears his Boris Johnson jibes on Have I Got News For You could spark an impartiality row, it was claimed today.
The host appeared on the satirical quiz show last Friday at 9pm, just an hour before the bulletin, and featured a series of jokes about the former Prime Minister, who the Privileges Committee found had lied to Parliament over Partygate.
Myrie had been due to present the news as well but corporation bosses feared impartiality accusations could arise and his colleague Jane Hill was parachuted in as a replacement.
An insider told the Times: ‘There wasn’t a specific joke which triggered the request.
‘It was more to do with concerns that Clive was doing two very different types of programme within an hour of each other.
The host appeared on the satirical quiz show last Friday, which aired just an hour before the bulletin at 9pm and featured a series of jokes about the former Prime Minister
The Privileges Committee found Boris Johnson (pictured) had lied to Parliament over Partygate
Myrie regularly presents the News at Ten on BBC One but Jane Hill was said to have been parachuted in as a replacement on Friday
‘There was possibly a bit of over-caution, which felt a bit over the top to most people in news.’
An executive added that it was more of a ‘tonal’ decision to prevent Myrie from presenting two substantially different programmes almost back-to-back.
The episode of the quiz, often abbreviated to HIGNFY, saw the broadcaster deliver a number of scripted barbs at Mr Johnson’s expense.
He opened the show saying: ‘After being found by the House of Commons committee to have lied repeatedly, Boris Johnson takes the opportunity to deny that he’s ever been jogging or has a dog.’
Footage then rolled of the ex-PM out running with his Jack Russell cross, Dilyn.
It is not unusual for BBC news presenters to host HIGNFY, with Myrie having now done so four times, as well as appearances by the likes of Steph McGovern, David Dimbleby, Jeremy Paxman and, more recently, Naga Munchetty.
MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment.
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